Evaluation of U.s. Epa’s Screener Questionnaire for the Aquatic Animal Production Industry and Comparison to Usda Data

In August 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed national regulations to control pollutant discharges from the wastewaters of the aquatic animal production (AAP) industry. In developing this proposed rule, EPA collected information from the AAP industry by using a two-phase sample design. In the first phase, EPA conducted a census of the industry using a screener questionnaire that requested basic information to better identify and define the population. In the second phase, EPA used a second questionnaire to collect detailed site-specific technical and financial information from a sample of the screener questionnaire respondents. After adjusting for nonresponse in the screener questionnaire responses, EPA estimated that 3,075 facilities conducted AAP in 2000 compared to 4,028 facilities identified by the 1998 Census of Aquaculture conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This paper evaluates EPA’s screener questionnaire design and compares its results to the USDA Census of Aquaculture and other data sources from the USDA. Introduction This paper describes data that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using to develop national regulations to control pollutant discharges from the wastewaters of the aquatic animal production (AAP) industry. In developing these regulations, EPA used a two-phase survey to collect information from the AAP industry. In the first phase, EPA used a census to collect basic information that would allow EPA to better identify and define the population. In the second phase, EPA collected detailed sitespecific technical and financial information from a sample of the first-phase respondents. After adjusting for nonresponse in the screener questionnaire responses, EPA estimated that 3,075 facilities conducted AAP in 2000 compared to 4,028 facilities identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1998 Census of Aquaculture. This paper evaluates EPA’s screener questionnaire in the first phase of the survey and compares those results to data sources from the USDA. Background and Definition During the last 30 years, EPA has conducted surveys of numerous industrial sectors. The information from these surveys has been used to develop national regulations for water pollution control. For each industry, EPA selects an appropriate technology control, by determining its availability within the industry, the potential costs to the industry, the economic impacts of the costs on businesses, as well as the degree to which it effectively prevents the generation of pollutants, or removes, controls, or reduces specific pollutants. EPA then applies the technology control to determine appropriate numerical limits on the amount of specific pollutants that can be discharged in wastewater by facilities in each industry. Since 1974, this program has been very successful, resulting in a combined reduction of over 690 billion pounds of pollutants each year to the nation’s waters due to regulations on more than 55 industrial categories. Although some AAP facilities currently have permits to discharge their wastewater, EPA has not promulgated national regulations for this particular industry. The AAP industry includes fish hatcheries and farms that grow finfish (such as trout, catfish, salmon, tilapia, hybrid striped bass, ornamentals), shrimp, and other aquatic animals. Some AAP facilities can contribute nutrients to environmentally sensitive areas in estuaries, rivers, lakes, and streams throughout the country. In addition, the facilities use and potentially discharge drugs (e.g., antibiotics) and other chemicals. During its examination of this industry, EPA has observed improvements in wastewater treatment within the AAP industry by some facilities to reduce nutrients and other pollutants. By examining the cost and performance of pollution control technologies and practices, EPA is investigating whether more facilities could employ these technologies to reduce pollutant discharges to surface waters.